Chow Mein Vs. Lo Mein – What Are The Differences?

Chow Mein and Lo Mein are completely different foods with the different recipes. Both chow mein and lo mein are stir-fry noodles that use wheat flour egg noodles. People usually do not fully understand what makes the two dishes different and will use them interchangeably. In this article, we are going to differentiate Chow Mein and Lo Mein.

Cooking Chow Mein and Lo Mein

Chow Mein

Chow mein noodles are fried until they are crisp. Lo mein noodles are boiled until they are soft. Chow mein noodles are the noodles that are technically stir fried whereas lo mein noodles are tossed noodles.

When you prepare chow mein you will start with either fresh or dried noodle, add cooked noodles to stir fry and stir together. It is usually served with a soy based sauce. Lo mein is prepared by starting with fresh noodles, pour ingredients and sauce over the noodles and stir. It is usually served with an oyster sauce but can use a soy-based sauce.

Noodle Type

Lo Mein

Both use wheat flour egg noodles. Chow mein noodles will be flat or rounded, usually flat. Lo mein noodles are rounded.